THIEVES stole a tree planted in memory of a young man who died in a car crash.

Allan and Susan Henderson donated the tree to Ellesmere Port Golf Club, where their son, Andrew, used to play before he was killed by a hit-and-run driver on Station Road, Little Sutton, last year. He was 22.

Mrs Henderson said: 'Although losing our son was, and still is, traumatic, we were beginning to come to terms with it, thanks in the main to his friends and colleagues.

'It was through his friends at the golf club that we were invited to donate a tree as a living memory of Andrew.

'It gave us a great deal of support to go up to the course and contemplate Andrew while looking at the tree.

'So imagine our disgust when the golf club phoned to tell us someone has stolen the tree by uprooting it.'

Mrs Henderson says the tree is a valuable symbol to them and they want it back. 'If any parent reads this and knows anything about it, please use your influence and put pressure on the perpetrator,' she added.

And she had a message for the thief: 'They may have destroyed Andrew's memorial but they'll never, ever destroy the lovely memories we have of our son, brother and friend.'

Andrew worked as a kitchen fitter for Factory Kitchens and Bedrooms in Saltney.

The sports-mad ex-Sutton High pupil played in the scratch league at the golf club. He lived with his family on Kronsbec Avenue, Little Sutton.

In February this year, Paul McCone was jailed for four years for knocking over Andrew.

McCone, 30, of Greenway, Saughall, admitted causing death by careless driving, driving with excess alcohol, failing to stop at an accident, driving with no insurance or an MOT and having a defective tyre.

As well as jail, he was banned from driving for seven years and must take an extended retest.

If you have any information on the tree theft, call police on 01244 350222 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.